View of the Hudson River from an aircraft flying North, over the New Jersey shoreline. United States Navy warships are seen in the Hudson River, on the occasion of President Truman's first official visit to New York City, on Navy Day, October 27, 1945. Approximately 50 ships were anchored in the Hudson. The first clearly identified is the Battleship, USS Missouri(BB-63) with the Destroyer USS Renshaw (DD-499) tied alongside (bringing President Truman aboard during his review of the fleet). Others seen include the USS Midway (CVB-41); the USS Enterprise (CV-6); The USS Augusta (CA-31); and the USS Boise (CL-47). Several more surface ships are seen followed by six submarines on the surface, as the aircraft approaches the George Washington Bridge. More warships seen North of the bridge. Scene shifts to the USS Missouri and USS Renshaw, again. Next, the aircraft flies past a Navy blimp hovering below, over the river. The Aircraft Carriers, Enterprise and Midway are seen again. Glimpses of the New York City shore and buildings are seen at times in the film, as well as the palisades on the New Jersey shore, near the George Washington Bridge.

New York City motorcycle policemen gathered on a city street in readiness to escort Harry S. Truman upon his first official visit to the city as President. He is seen riding in an open car, accompanied by Secret Service agents and several U.S. Naval officers. New Yorkers line the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of the President. Workers, of the 32nd Street Western Cafeteria, line the sidewalk in front of their restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood. The Presidential motorcade crossing the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn, and then turning into the gate of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Sailors lining the Navy Yard roadway presenting arms. Military personnel, yard workers and others fill the Navy yard. The President's flag hoisted on the USS Franklin D Roosevelt. Hundreds of Navy officers and sailors all in white hats, salute in unison. All sit to listen to President Truman's remarks. Scene shifts back to the streets of Manhattan, as policemen control spectators lining the sidewalks. Brief view from a car moving along the path of the motorcade.

The Empire State Building in New York City. Views of the Empire State Building in 1970. Views of the Empire State Building under construction in 1930 and 1931. A blimp passing near the Empire State building in the 1930s. People gathered in front of the Empire State Building for its grand opening in May 1931. Next scene shows the 79th floor of the Empire State Building engulfed in flames after a B-25 aircraft crashed into the building in 1945. Views of the fire from the ground an from the 79th floor areas as firemen extinguish flames. Final scene is street levels views of the Empire State building from a moving vehicle, again in 1970.

Clear aerial views of midtown and lower Manhattan, New York City 1930, but with smoke coming from Hudson River pier of New York Harbor where the North German Lloyd liner Munchen (sometimes Muenchen or München) is seen on fire, shortly after docking in New York after the voyage from Bremen, Germany. Ship emits smoke and fire at the pier. Firefighters spray water to extinguish fire. Views of the piers and slips and dock areas on the Hudson River at New York City and close up views of the firefighters battling the blaze on the Muenchen. The ship subsequently sank at dock. She was raised later in 1930, repaired in dry dock, and returned to service under the new name SS General von Steuben. The ship was sunk in 1945 by the S-13 submarine of the Soviet Union.

Review of conflicts involving U.S. from World War 2 to 1970. A U.S. soldier with rifle and binoculars, on guard. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler speaks in Germany to mass audience. German mobilization and blitzkrieg. U.S. troops firing small arms on island in Pacific. U.S. soldiers on half-track firing artillery. Explosive destruction of Nazi swaztika and Eagle symbol on top of building in Zeppelin Field, Nuremberg, Germany. General Douglas MacArthur stands as Japanese General signs surrender documents aboard USS Missouri, ending World War II. Times Square in New York City on Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marking end of World War 2. American troops firing artillery and small arms in Korean War. Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev speaking at the UN. Newspaper headlines about postwar Berlin Crisis. Soviet missiles on display in military parade in Red Square, Moscow. Soviet General Georgy Zhukov and Nikita Khrushchev,at Kremlin, reviewing the parade. Cuban President Fidel Castro giving a speech. A newspaper headline reading: "Khruschev orders removal of missiles" ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. Soviet cargo ship with covered missiles on its deck. Red flag with image of Lenin and message: 'Partido Communista Dominicano' and a crowd chanting support for the Communist party in the Dominican Republic. Chinese people marching with massed flags. Mao Tse-Tung, President of China, waving to a crod. A U.S. soldier in South Vietnam during Vietnam War looks through binoculars and then walks carrying his M-16 rifle. A map of Vietnam.